Carl hechtle



No. 62l,247. Patented Mar. l4, I899.

C. HECHTLE. MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

(Application filed Nov. 25, 1898.)

(No Model.)

Noam: PETERS co. FHOTD-LITHO.. wnflmo'mm CARL HEOHTLE, OF HANAU, GERMANY.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,247, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed November 25, 1898. Serial No- 697,388. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL HEOHTLE, man ufacturer, residing at I-lanau-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Movements, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in mechanical movements.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple means for transmitting the pressure due to the resiliency of aspring from the normal direction in which it acts to a direction at an angle thereto.

With this object in view a device embodying my invention comprises a spring member having surfaces-which cooperate with an inclined plane or planes, the spring being bodily movable with relation to the inclined plane or planes. The spring has thereby imparted to it a longitudinal and a swinging or rotary movement. 'This swinging or rotary movement is due to pivotal means which hold the spring in operative relation to the inclined plane or planes while permitting said longitudinal movement, said pivotal means consisting in pivots on one part engaging slots on the other or equivalent arrangements. In some embodiments of said invention a bowed spring is arranged for movement in two directions, said spring having surfaces which coact with inclined planes. These features may be embodied in connection with such other features, details, and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3,and4are elevations showing the application of my invention to a cuff or collar button or the like, the spring member being shown in three positions. Figs. 5,6, and 7 are similarviews of another form of button embodying my inven-. tion, the spring member being shown in two positions. Figs. 8 and 9 show another form of device embodying my invention, said form being adapted for use as a tidy-holder. Figs. 10 and 11 show a construction embodying my invention as applied to a device for locking the steering-head of a bicycle.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, which illustrate my invention as applied to a collar or end button or the like, a is a spring member made in the form of a bowed or looped spring having its end provided with inclined surfaces 1), arranged on the outside of the ends of the said spring member. These inclined surfaces are arranged to bear against inclined planes 0, which are fixed relative to the respective spring members, being formed on a U-shaped abutment member d, which is secured to the back of the buttonffront-plate e. The spring member a is held to the U -shaped abutment member 01 in a manner to permit bodily movement of the spring member by pivotal means, such as inward-extending pins f, secured to the abutment member and arranged to enter slots or grooves formed in the respective ends of the spring member a, as indicated at g. The pins f, in connection with the slots g, constitute pivotal means or, more specifically, pintle devices for permitting the swinging or rotary movement of the spring member, and of course it will be un derstood that equivalent devices may be used to bring about the same effect and are included within the scope of my invention. In this construction the resiliency of the spring member tends to spread apart the ends of such spring member. This tendency causes a pressure of the inclined surfaces 1) on the inclined planes 0. As a consequence when the' spring member is in the position shown in Fig. lit moves in a longitudinal direction downward to the position shown in Fig. 2 until finally its ends come into contact with the inner or rear face of the abutment member cl, the continued outward pressure, due to the resiliency of the spring member, tending to hold the latter in close contact with the said rear face of the abutment member, whereby the spring member is retained in a position for insertion through the desired buttonhole. After such insertion the spring member may be drawn outward and then rotated or swung down to a position at right angles to the previous position, the resiliency of such spring member in connection with its inclined surfaces causing it to move to such a position that it will project in both directions from the abutment member (I, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thereby preventing the accidental Withdrawal of the button. To

remove the button, these steps are reversed,

the spring member being first drawn lengthwise until its ends approach the pins f, whereupon it is turned upward to the position shown in Fig. 1 and then released. The resiliency of the spring member a will force the latter to the position shown in Fig. 2, which allows the ready removal of the button and leaves it in condition for insertion again.

The construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 in that the inclined surfaces 1) are formed on the inside of the ends of the spring member ct instead of on the outside, and the abutment member instead of being U-shaped and having its inclined planes on the inside is made as a stud or post d, having its inclined planes 0 on the outside, as will be clear from the drawings. The parts 6, f, and g in these figures are the same as and correspond to the parts c, f, and c described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 6' representing the base-plate toward which the spring is urged, f the pivot, and g the slot or groove engaged by the pivot. The operation of this construction is substantially the same as that of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4, with the exception that the resiliency of the spring member acts to force its ends inward instead of outward, as in the previously-described device.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a device embodying my invention which may be used as a clip or holderfor example, as a holder for securing tidies or scarfs to chairs or the like. In this construction 6 is a base-plate arranged to be screwed, nailed, or otherwise attached to the article of furniture upon which it is to be used. This base-plate has outward-projecting cars (1 provided on their inner surfaces with inclined planes c which are to cooperate with the inclined surfaces 19 of the spring member (t the resiliency of the latter tending to force its ends apart. In this construction the pins f secured in the ears d extend inward into and project entirely through longitudinally arranged slots g formed inthe ends of the spring member a The operation of this device is substantially the same as that of the device shown in Figs. 1 to at; but its function is somewhat different, it being intended that one corner of the tidy or scarf be inserted onto the base-plate e between the two cars d where it will be clamped and held owing to the downward pressure of the spring member (0 against the base-plate 6 this downward pressure arising from the tendency of the spring member to move its ends outward away from each other. The manipulation of this device, which may be secured or attached to a chair, settee, or the like in a manner which is obvious, will be readily understood. Assumingthe parts to occupy the relative position indicated in Fig. 9 and one corner of the scarf or tidy to be inserted between the ears (1 d and between the baseplate 6 and the spring member (P, the said spring is then withdrawn longitudinally until the pins f arrive at the ends of the slots 9 whereupon the spring member is tilted or swung upwardly and then released. Thereupon the ends I) of the spring member,which have been compressed by the withdrawal, following their tendency to expand, ride down the inclined planes-c until they bear upon and clamp the corner of the tidy or scarf against the base-plate e Figs. 10 and 11 show my invention as embodied in a device for locking the steeringhead of a bicycle. In these views, a is the spring member, whose resiliency tends to move its ends away from each other, thereby crowding its inclined surfaces 11 against the inclined planes 0 which in this case are formed on the inner walls or faces of the registering slots or openings in the tubes h h, forming the spindle and socket, respectively, of the bicycle steering-head. The pins f are secured in the socket h and project toward each other into longitudinal slots or grooves g formed in the ends of the spring member. In order to unlock the steering-head, the spring member is drawn outward until its ends clear the openings in the steering-head and then turned downward or upward,whereupon the spindle h will be free to move in its socket h. -To lock the steering-head of the bicycle, the spring member a is caught by its loop and swung outwardly on the pins f until the ends are opposite and in line with the openings in the socket h and spindle h, as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 10 and 11, the latter being turned so that said open ings register with each other. i The spring member is then released and is forced by its own resiliency into the said registering openings, thus rendering it impossible to turn the spindle h in the socket h.

It will be seen that in all the structures shown and described the lateral force of the spring is transmitted so as to exert a pressure at an angle to the direction of such lateral forceviz. ,in the direction of the length of the spring member-thereby causing the spring member to move bodily to its normal position if out of such normal position or causing it to exert a pressure while in its normal position which will retain it in such position.

One of the advantages of my mechanical movement is that the spring member of the same performs the two functions of a clamping-jaw and the spring or yielding device for urging the clamping-jaw into its operative position. Great simplicity and compactness are thereby attained. Another important advantage is that the inclined planes may be so proportioned that only a part of the force of the spring will be transmitted along the desired direction, whereby it results that a comparatively heavy spring may be employed to produce a slight yielding pressure, thus avoiding the use of weak springs, which are soon injured in elasticity by frequent operation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what Iclaim as'new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a spring member having inclined surfaces, of inclined planes arranged to coact with the inclined surfaces and pivotal means for holding the spring member in operative relation to the inclined planes in a manner to permit longitudinal and swinging or rotary movement of the spring member.

2. The combination, with a spring member having slots and inclined surfaces, of inclined planes arranged to coact with the inclined surfaces, and a pivot engaging the slots and holding the spring member in operative relation to the inclined planes, whereby longitudinal and swinging or rotary motion of the spring member are permitted.

3. The combination, With a spring member having inclined surfaces on its outer lateral faces, of an abutment member having inclined planes on its inner faces arranged to coact with the inclined surfaces, and pivotal means for holding the spring member in operative CARL HEOHTLE.

Witnesses:

KARL MERZ, REINHOLD KNID. 

